Copyright 2023 Family Vacation Critic All Rights Reserved. Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions She doesn't understand our concern, and is probably wondering why grown men traveling without children are in her park in the first place. More, National Cryptologic Museum, Annapolis Junction, Maryland (Feb 27-Mar 5, 2023). The admission cost is super reasonable and their snack bar has normal food prices. Statues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. That was a bit disturbing to me. WebCompare 721 hotels close to Magic Forest Park with room rates, reviews, and availability. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied or revised without written permission of the authors. We could see things in the woods by they are roped off. Hes believed to be the largest Uncle Sam statue in the world. live santa only comes out when the weather isn't too hot. No, I would say age 8 max. Returning the statue to its original home was part of the deal. There was this crazy little tiny squirrel that was literally the smallest figure I listed and everyone wanted that thing, he says. About 20 dioramas -- accompanied by audio at the push of a button -- bring to life the Three Little Pigs, Jack Sprat, Hansel & Gretel, assorted princesses and woodsmen Magic Forest opened in 1963, the brainchild of Arthur Gillette, who wisely built his fairyland along a major highway (Route 9) and just south of the town of Lake George, a magnet for summertime and weekend crowds from New York City. WebLake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. Alexandra is the features editor at Roadtrippers Magazine. WebYour visit to the park will be a walking tour; for our visitors with mobility difficulties, we will provide alternative means. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. We strive to insure accuracy on Lakegeorge.com however accuracy cannot be guaranteed. One, a giant clown, has to be the most remodeled MM in the world. No computerized rides here! The stable and manger are not in use. WebLake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. The magic show by Jimmy Brown was incredible, full of laughs, both of my girls got to go on stage and participate. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied or revised without written permission of the authors. "Magic Forest" redirects here. We took our almost 3 year old and she loved it. WebStatues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. It means nothing to most people; but for people who went to the fair and loved it, its worth its value to them.. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud. Web1912 State Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 Visit Site Adirondacks Region Details Since 1963, Magic Forest has entertained young park goers and their families, creating memories for all. Learn more about Roadpass accounts here. It was an amazing collection of original piecesthe largest I knew to exist.. We couldn't find an existing Roadtrippers account using that service. tourist attractions and odd sights in New York, World's Highest and Longest Pedestrian Bridge. Please alert us if there is any inaccurate information here. However, that didnt keep father and son from getting together at the Danbury Fair after it had closed, for the grounds to become a mall to rescue hundreds of statues and decorations. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. Information is subject to change. Statues from Magic Forest in Lake George are up for sale. Maybe what we actually saw was the ghost of Rex, the parks original equine entertainer and Lightnings fatheror perhaps it was all an elaborate magic trick performed by the resident magician, Jimmy Brown (who also doubledor rather, tripledas the parks lone emcee and balloon animal artist). Two Muffler Men are particularly disturbing. Is the park recommend for children 7-10 years old? Its also shady as it is indeed in a forest. The magic finally ran out last year when longtime owner Jack Gillette sold the park to a local contractor, Ruben Ellsworth. Accessibility is our goal, please contact us with site improvements. He says to me, Do you know Charlie Woods? On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! In addition to Danbury Fair and Carson City, other items come from places like Lake Georges own Gaslight Village; Charles R. Woods Story Town; as well as amusement parks with names like Animal Land, Hoffmans Play Land and Land of Make Believe. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. When I visited the Magic Forest in 2015, the woman at the ticket counter tried to dissuade ustwo adults with nary a child in sightfrom entering. 3. We have a couple of similar parks here in NH that are WAY ahead of Magic Forest. Most hotels are fully refundable. A bean pole droops, a gingerbread house caves in, a Humpty Dumpty falls one last time. Not the first time for the boys. By continuing to use our site you agree to ourprivacy policy. They include paint-chipped animals, old theme park legends, and quite a few broken fae folk. WebLake George Expedition Park is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. The theme park reopened in 2019 with a new owner and a new name: Lake George Expedition Park. UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. [1] Magic Forest also has a small petting zoo where children can feed the animals. Unfortunately, for each figure whose origins are known, anothers backstory has been lost over time. Take your kids to the Magic Forest to let them have a perfect time in this retro themed amusement park filled with around 25 fun rides including the kiddie rides that are perfect for both the toddlers and the older kids. These are rides that we as children went on growing up and rides we brought our children to go on when they were little but at different amusement parks. They came from Woodys Fiberglass in Tennessee, Bensons Wild Animal Farm in New Hampshire, a mini-golf course in Ohio, and the Danbury Fair in Connecticut. It opened in 2019, and incorporates the Magic Forest, which opened in 1963, along with a new attraction entitled Dino Roar Valley. Hours But then there is a whole dinosaur park with animatronic dinosaurs throughout the forest. Embark on a ride that will take you sky high or take the scenic route through the forest on our park train. Gillette can be reached at 518-895-8150 to schedule an appointment. Exhibits like Cinderellas Castle and Santas House as well as the snack bar and the gift shop are also great. $$ Photos See all photos Connect with Magic Forest on Facebook Log In or Create new account I hope the utilize this theme in the fall. She dreams of visiting every state in the U.S. and will always stop for a Muffler Man. 51. The sale began last November, and Baker was shocked with the level of interest. The Spider Man is a creepy top-hatted arachnid, maybe not so scary in a world of chest-bursting aliens and zombies. There were no lines. Get a piece of your childhood now! Create and Save Your Own Crazy Road Trip! WebLake George (0.7 miles from Magic Forest) Situated off Interstate 87 and set in the heart of the Adirondack Park Preserve, this Holiday Inn Resort Lake George offers indoor and outdoor pools and an on-site restaurant and lounge. Is there a live Santa the kids can visit with? Posted by 3 years ago. Santa is actually there in an air conditioned log house. Plenty of parking. Hundreds of fiberglass figures strewn about the heavily-wooded park were faded by decades of sun and exposure to the elements, covered in spider webs and other forest detritus. WebLake George, New York. Located on the seasonal Greater Glens Falls Transit Trolley route. Restoration specialists will be working to spruce him up from the wear and tear hes endured over the years. Gillettes own connection to the Danbury Fair comes from a family background in show business. Most fairy tale theme parks eventually suffer the fate of a fabled cursed kingdom. Credits, Media/Business Inquiries Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. This is a must see. I havent had a bad experience with anything Ive sold.. WebMagic Forest Route 9, Lake George, NY Best For: Infants 0-2 Little Kids 3-6 Big Kids 7-9 Tweens 10-12 Teens 13-17 Best suited for the very young, or anyone with a penchant for quirky roadside attractions, this small amusement park opened in I made, I dont know, about 20 or 30 trips, sometimes with a tractor-trailer. The day we were there, a summer camp group was there and they had their own food item stored in coolers. Hes come to the buyers, too. All four of us had a really awesome day. Gilette was something of a collector, amassing his estimated over 700 items over decades while running Magic Forest, which first opened in 1963. Having trouble using this site? Credits, Media/Business Inquiries Hundreds of fiberglass figures strewn about the heavily-wooded park were faded by decades of sun and exposure to the elements, covered in spider webs and other forest detritus. Jimmy Brown's magic show was great. This was very nastalgic for us because the rides here were bought from different parks over the years and brought to this one. Today, many roar obliviously north on the interstate, but enough families exit to keep MF hopping, under the management of Arthur's successor, Jack Gillette, since 1988. Its a good mix of things to do. Rex the Diving Horse leaped on cue into a pool for many years; now his son, Lightning, takes the plunge twice a day. Almost all of the quirky attractions of Magic Forest described below -- including the diving horse, the gigantic Uncle Sam, and the Muffler Men -- have been removed. Transferring the giant statue from Lake George to Danbury, roughly a three hour ride, was reportedly difficult. It wasn't the least bit crowded and they would run the rides for just our two granddaughters. WebMagic Forest - Lake George Expedition Park FUN TO MAKE YOU SOAR Enter a world of nostalgia and wonder Magic Forest is the park of your childhood dreams! The Magic Forest felt like it was from a different time not only physically, but spiritually. Best Western of Lake George 2452 State Route 9N, Lake George, NY, 12845 $77 per night Mar 1 - Mar 2 Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Lake George. Water available for sale all throughout. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. I was buying stuff and bringing it back up here and just putting it in my parking lot, wherever I could, Gillette recounted. Visitors passing through the garish fairyland entrance building are inundated with choices, as paths curve away into clusters of statues, rides and brightly painted cottages. The 38-foot-tall Uncle Sam has been returned to its original location in Danbury, Connecticut. The food was not too expensive. Are you associated with this business? Most fairy tale theme parks eventually suffer the fate of a fabled cursed kingdom. I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. Jack Gillette, the longtime owner of Magic Forest, initially purchased Uncle Sam (and other pieces) at auction from the Danbury Fair decades ago when the fair closed its doors in 1981. He was tasked with finding buyers for all of the pieces in the Magic Forests diverse collection. The women at the snack bar were putting together a puzzle in between filling orders, and when we found that the gift shop had closed before the park did, they allowed us to come back the next day (for free) to shop for souvenirs. These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The Magic Forest, a storybook amusement park located in Lake George, New York, looked abandoned for years before it officially closed. Information 1912 US Route 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-7627 Memorial Day - October Visit Website Posted in Family Fun, Group Attractions Hundreds of fiberglass figures strewn about the heavily-wooded park were faded by decades of sun and exposure to the elements, covered in spider webs and other forest detritus. For as long as I live, I wont forget how it felt to teeter on the brink of death, slowly ascending on a rickety Ferris wheel that appeared to have been built from the mismatched pieces of a garage sale Erector set. Our website found buyers who truly have a passion for saving these kinds of things.. I was there last week nothing was unsafe it is one of the best children's parks around. We spot their blistered, sagging entry gates on lonely back roads, or squeezed between the Amusements of the Month in some overdeveloped Mecca. But we bet this up close encounter will come back in someone's nightmares. Uncle Sam is 38 feet tall and formerly stood at the Danbury Fairgrounds in Connecticut. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. WebCompare 721 hotels close to Magic Forest Park with room rates, reviews, and availability. Jimmy Brown the magician is fantastic and I love that they have Santa there. Kids enjoyed it a lot. I didnt want to go to six flags or another big park that would take the entire day waiting in lines. This place was perfect for my 4 and 6 year old. RoadsideAmerica.comYour Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions. Both are protected with Clear Coat, as are all the statues in the Magic Forest. This place is great! 7.1/10 We need your email address to send you trip itineraries and other updates. My husband told me he was creeped out & felt like the statues were following is with their eyes. The fella Im buying stuff from says, We gotta leave some stuff for the auction.'. 95% of travelers recommend this experience. She doesn't understand our concern, and is probably wondering why grown men traveling without children are in her park in the first place. Putting prices on the items and getting them ready to go was a bit bittersweet for Gillette, but overall he says he would rather see the statues and decor go to people who can continue to get some enjoyment and use out of them. This park is a cute stop and great for small kids without the meltdowns that come with large parks when theyre beyond exhausted. But its hard not to become despondent and dig in your heels when it feels as if the world you love is rapidly disappearing. Probably nowhere else is the disturbing world of children's' fairy tales brought to life more vividly. With magically delicious food and shows so good you wont believe your eyes, one trip to the Magic Forest will have you checking for vacancies in the Old Womans shoe. 3. In the beginning, I was getting over 30 emails a day, he says. They were nice. We put an ax in his hands and made him a woodsman.". UPDATE 06/2019: The Magic Forest has been taken over by new owners and is now known as the Lake George Expedition Park. Each ride had info about when and where it was made, when it was bought and info about the hydraulics. Copyright 1996-2023 Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. ' Gilette remembers. Its a miracle that the Magic Forest, which opened in 1963, outlived its expiration date by several yearsmaybe even decadesbut nothing lasts forever. Get a piece of your childhood now! There are adult rides and family rides too. There are also a petting zoo, magic shows, and stunt shows with the last remaining diving horse, Lightning. For what he does for them, that poor guy is not taken care of very well in return (matted mane, hooves not properly trimmed, SMALL paddock that he is just put back into after his dive, soken wet), and he doesn't seem to enjoy what he's made to do. [2], The other part of the park is Dino Roar Valley, which opened in 2019 and featuring animatronic dinosaurs.[3]. enchanted forest water safari where the fun never stops is up in old forge, this place was near Lake George. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV.